🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 28 Nov 2021 🧢 Friendly XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday 28 November brought a bitter, blustery afternoon to Linton Park, the sort of day where the toss feels like the only warm moment you'll get, and Bearsted CC arrived to find us in no mood to hang about. Batting first, we cracked on to 107/2 from a brisk nine overs, with Aaron Hughes (26 not out), Sam Boyns (26 not out) and Luke Welsman (25 not out) all sharing the scoring duties as if divvying up a round at the bar — nobody greedy, everybody contributing.

With the ball, things got even better. Bearsted's reply folded to 64 all out in just 7.3 overs, Christian Roberts's 20 the only real resistance, while poor Lewis Bedwell trudged off for a golden duck without so much as a single to his name. Anthony Karassellos was the chief destroyer with 3-30, backed up nicely by Sam Boyns's 1-9 — a lad clearly determined to have his say with bat and ball both. I even chipped in with 26 myself, purely in a supporting role, you understand.

Beyond the scorebook, today had a touch of history: Benjamin Austin reached 3,000 career runs for the club, and Luke Welsman brought up 4,000 — proper landmarks on a proper cold day. Aaron Hughes continues to sit third in the Friendly XI run charts, with Karassellos still leading the wickets column.

We ran out winners by 43 runs. Cold hands, warm hearts, good day for the club.

Sun 10 Oct 2021 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLWWWL

Skipper's Log, Sunday 10 October 2021 — away to The Mote CC.

Won the toss, and there was never really a debate in my head about what to do with it. Bat first, ask questions later. We laboured to 93/5 from our nine overs, which on reflection was always going to leave us needing something special with the ball. Sam Boyns held the innings together with an unbeaten 26, Luke Welsman chipped in nicely with 23, and I managed 26 myself, proving even the captain can occasionally hold a bat the right way up. Special mention, sadly, to poor Anthony Karassellos, who departed for a duck without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, Anthony, chin up.

With the ball, we simply couldn't find a way through. The Mote raced to 97/2 in just 7.1 overs, Matthew White (25 not out) and Theeshan Satkunaseelan (25 not out) doing the early damage with a stand of 53, before Matt Sadler (21 not out) finished the job off in a hurry. Sam Boyns was our pick of the bowlers with 1-17, but one good over — the fifth, where we did claim two wickets — was very much the exception rather than the rule.

Elsewhere, a word of cheer: Luke Welsman continues his fine season, sitting third in the 1st XI run charts with 226 for the year.

Not our day, beaten by four wickets. Heads up, and back to the nets — we'll live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 25 Sep 2021 🧢 Friendly XIv SC Selling CC · AwayformWLWWL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 25 September 2021 — away at Selling CC on a warm, overcast afternoon perfect for putting one's feet up, though as it turned out we'd need every over.

I called correctly at the toss, which around these parts counts as the highlight of most seasons, and had no hesitation whatsoever in choosing to bat. Craig Sands then went and reminded everyone why: 147, three figures and no less, an innings that also carried him past Paul Gibson into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list and over the 16,000-run mark for his career — a fine afternoon's work by anyone's reckoning. Richard Skye (71 not out) and Anthony Karassellos (51) played handsomely in support, while poor Nolan Wilde contributed a golden duck, the sort of nothing that makes for excellent tea-time ribbing. We closed on 304/5 from our 40, a total that felt, at the time, faintly untouchable.

Selling had other ideas, replying with 301/8 from their 40 — Brad Wretham (78) doing most of the damage, well supported by Tom Hinkes (46) and Nick Myers (36 not out) — and for a good while it looked touch and go. Anthony Karassellos kept his head to finish with 2-29, backed up by Aaron Hughes (2-31) and John Karassellos (2-49), and it was he who also brought up his 100th career wicket for the club along the way. He now leads our 2021 Friendly XI wicket charts with six, as Craig does the run charts with 147.

A tense finish, but a win is a win, and by 3 runs it was a famous one. Onwards.

Sun 19 Sep 2021 🧢 Friendly XIv KC Kent Royals (Hollingbourne) CC · HomeformLWLWW

Kent Royals (Hollingbourne) rolled up on a warm, drizzly Sunday, and I did what any self-respecting skipper does when he wins the toss and there's damp in the air — batted first and told myself it was tactics rather than tradition. 131 all out from 39.3 overs was a fair honest total rather than a match-winning one, built around a tidy 25 from Nolan Wilde and 22 from Anthony Karassellos, with everyone else chipping in the way village sides do. Special mention, as ever, for the Duck Club: Michaela Karassellos took the long walk back for nought, and the ledger duly noted it.

In the field we huffed and puffed but never quite got there. The Royals cruised to 134/2 in 25.2 overs, Habahd Ali unbeaten on a classy 53 and Moshi Chowdhury not far behind on 47, the pair simply batting us out of it. Tim Thirkell led the attack manfully with 1-22, Alex Wade chipping in with 1-25, but two wickets was never going to be enough against that kind of stroke-play.

Small mercies: Thirkell's solitary scalp nudged him past Martin Harris into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and in the 2021 Friendly XI charts Karassellos sits 4th with 63 runs while Wade leads the bowling with 4 wickets — silver linings on a cloudy afternoon.

Beaten by eight wickets, then. Not our day, lads — back to the nets, and back to the tea urn for consolation.

Sat 18 Sep 2021 🧢 Friendly XIv Linden Park CC · HomeformWLWLW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 18 September 2021, and a warm, grey afternoon greeted Linden Park CC as our visitors. I lost the toss, as is tradition, and duly took my customary seat in the field while they went in to bat.

Forty overs of honest toil brought them 215/6, built around a well-made fifty from Jayaprakash Seluthiyan (68), ably supported by Tom Corner's own fine half-century (57) and a brisk 33 from Richard Prescott. It looked, for a spell, like a total to trouble us. But Anthony Karassellos had other ideas, ripping through with 2-30, while Nick Pennefather (1-8) and Tim Thirkell (1-26) chipped in to keep the scoring honest rather than exuberant.

Chasing 216, we might have expected the usual Linton Park wobble — a flurry of wickets and much muttering into the tea urn. Instead, Aaron Hughes and Martin Rivers simply took the game away from them. Hughes made a well-made fifty of his own, 89 no less, while Rivers matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten 89, the pair sharing a stand of 164 for the second wicket that rendered the rest of the order largely spectators. We cantered home on 216/2 with well over an over to spare.

Two points, and thoroughly earned. When your top order bats like that, captaincy mostly involves pouring the drinks and trying not to get in the way — a genuinely fine afternoon's cricket.

Sat 11 Sep 2021 🧢 Friendly XIv OC Offham CC · AwayformDWLWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 11 September 2021, and the road took us out to Offham, a fine sort of afternoon for it. Won the toss, and with a rare flash of confidence I stuck us in to bat, which for once didn't come back to bite me. We rattled along to 279/6 from our 40, though it began shakily with the first wicket down for just 6 — the sort of start that has you eyeing the tea urn nervously. Junaid Mufti had other ideas, though, playing a superb, chanceless 123 to drag us to something respectable, with Will Thew (40) and Anthony Karassellos (27) chipping in either side of a match-defining 110-run stand for the fourth wicket. Even the extras column pitched in 26, bless it.

Defending 279 is always a nervy business, and Offham didn't make it easy. Alex Dimmick's well-made fifty (53) and Daniel Blakeburn's unbeaten 52 threatened to spoil the party, with Harry Legg (43) chipping in and a sixth-wicket stand of 57 the closest thing to a wobble in our afternoon. But three ducks for Fraser Rogers, Graham Ward and Joseph Rogers told its own story, and Alex Wade (2-20) led the bowling with Karassellos (2-24) and Houghton-Judge (2-48) mopping up either side. I even had a bat again with 40 to my name, for what it's worth.

They fell 38 runs short, all out for 241. A thoroughly good day for the club — and one for the scorebook rather than the excuses column.

Wed 08 Sep 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLWWL

Beaten by 18 runs, but on this occasion it was very nearly right at the last.

We lost the toss at The Mote and were put in the field, which on a warm September afternoon is not the sort of news that lifts the spirits, but the lads set about it well enough. Daniel Mason gave us a torrid time on his way to 96, and Theeshan Satkunaseelan's unbeaten 75 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely for the home side, with Nazir Mohammed chipping in an unbeaten 26. We did strike early — 0 for 1 was a lovely start — but the fourth-wicket pair put on 138 and rather took the game away from us. Sam Boyns was the pick of a hard-working attack, 2 for 32 with two tidy maidens thrown in, and Nolan Wilde and Tobey Castle picked up a wicket apiece. Poor Ajith Peethambaran, at least, had the consolation of dismissing someone even as he departed for a duck himself. 223 for 4 from 40 overs left us a stiff chase.

To our credit we had a real go at it. Tobey Castle, in the form of his life, made a splendid 73, and Aaron Hughes matched him for class with 65, the pair sharing 102 for the second wicket and giving us real hope. But wickets at the other end — Benjamin Austin and Louis Turney both fell without scoring — meant we finished 205 for 8, 18 runs short.

Castle now leads our Midweek run charts with 263 for the season, and Wilde sits second among the wicket-takers with 7. Small consolations on a losing day, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 05 Sep 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Wingham CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday last, Wingham CC came calling on a warm, overcast afternoon, and for once the coin actually did as it was told — I called it right and elected to bat, a decision I shall be dining out on for weeks. Trouble started at once, mind, with a wicket down for nought and the sort of nervy hush that makes a skipper reach for something stronger than squash. But Archie Fairfax-Ross and Tobey Castle had other ideas, stitching together 240 for the second wicket in an act of sheer defiance — Archie compiling a magnificent 137, Tobey unbeaten on a magnificent 133, with Abishek Pushpavinothan chipping in an unbeaten 26 to launch us to 313/2 from our 40. Aaron Hughes, meanwhile, made his contribution with the bat a matter of public record: a duck, walk of shame and all. 🦆

Wingham's reply never quite got its boots on, despite an opening stand of 83 laying decent foundations. Ian Hollingworth bowled with real miserly menace — 3-35 with three maidens to show for it — well supported by Abishek Pushpavinothan (2-9) and Sam Boyns (1-3), while Lucas Simms and Korey Causer both departed for ducks at our hands. 🦆 Aaron, still shaking off his batting horrors, then conceded 8 byes behind the stumps, bless him. They finished 212/9.

A comfortable 101-run win, two points banked, and Tobey Castle now sitting proudly atop our season's run charts. Thoroughly earned, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Sat 04 Sep 2021 🧢 2nd XIv EC Eynsford CC · AwayformWTWWW

Well, another Saturday, another road trip — this time down to Eynsford, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to be kind to us, which in the end they were. We lost the toss (no shock there; my coin-calling remains a work in progress) and were put into the field on a pleasant, overcast afternoon that felt made for bowling.

Eynsford ground out a stiff 225/6 from their 40 overs, built chiefly around Pete Day's fine 88, with Dan Wise (35) and Ian Thomas (35 not out) chipping in dutifully. We did at least have our moments — Ben Wise departed for a duck at our hands 🦆, small mercies. James West was superb, leading the attack with 3-44, while Junaid Mufti and Anthony Karassellos picked up a wicket apiece, the latter bowling two miserly maidens to go with his 1-45.

Chasing 226, we made it look rather more comfortable than it had any right to be, cantering home on 228/5 with three overs unused. Will Thew anchored the innings magnificently with an unbeaten 73, supported by Junaid Mufti's fine 59 not out and Laurie Probert's 41. I'll allow myself a quiet word of pride at contributing 73 to that effort. Best of all, Will brought up 5,000 career runs for the club along the way — a proper mantelpiece moment, and thoroughly deserved given he now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season.

Five wickets to the good, two points banked, and a very pleasant drive home. Verdict: a job well earned, and Will's milestone the icing on the cake.

Sat 04 Sep 2021 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWLWWW

Toss lost, and Bearsted's captain didn't hesitate — asked us to field, which on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon at home felt like a fair enough gamble for them. It rather paid off. Their openers set about us for 63 before we prised the first wicket loose, and just when we thought we'd stemmed the tide, the third-wicket pair put on a chastening 101. Ben Johnston's well-made 67 and Mark Sandhu's 51 did the real damage, with Noel Johnston's 38 rubbing salt in, and 233/6 from their forty overs left us with a proper mountain. Tobey Castle toiled hardest for 2-47, with Joshua Knowler (1-25) and Richard Knowler (1-44) offering honest support against the tide.

Chasing 234, we stumbled to 4-1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and though Archie Fairfax-Ross played a fine, gutsy 53 — well backed by Toby Hughes (27) and Joshua Knowler (24) — we were all out for 176 in 37.5 overs. Tobey Castle, Aaron Hughes and Mardey Castle all made the long walk back for nought, and the Duck Club ledger groans under the weight of it.

One shaft of sunshine: Tobey Castle brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth raising a glass to even on a losing afternoon. Daniel Thirkell and Joshua Knowler continue to lead the run and wicket charts respectively — small mercies. Verdict: beaten by 57 runs, outplayed rather than unlucky. Back to the nets, heads up, and onwards.

Mon 30 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · AwayformWWLWL

From the captain's chair — Monday 30 August 2021. Off we trundled to Borstal, and for once the coin actually landed the right way up for me. No hesitation in bowling first, and how the lads made me look wise: Borstal were shot out for 156 in 37.1 overs, with David Round (37) and Alex Porter (32) the chief resistance and Sam Pepper chipping in 25, while poor Luke Butcher trudged off for a golden duck. Thomas Beeney was magnificent, ripping through with 4-25, backed up nicely by Sam Boyns (2-22) and Thomas Roxburgh (1-27). I'll admit the 17th over turned the whole afternoon our way, two wickets in a flurry that took the stuffing out of them — though I'll gloss quickly over my own contribution behind the stumps, where nine byes went through like I'd left the back gate open.

Chasing 157, William Roxburgh played the innings of a man with somewhere important to be, 90 not out and, rather wonderfully, bringing up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark worth toasting twice. Luke Welsman supported handsomely with 36, the pair sharing a stand of 68 for the third wicket that put the result beyond doubt, and we cantered home on 160/3 with seven wickets and overs to spare.

A verdict, then: sloppy gloves aside, this was as complete a performance as we've managed all season, crowned by a personal milestone from young Roxburgh that will be the toast of the clubhouse long after the scorebook is filed away.

Sun 29 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Battle CC · AwayformWLWLW

As it stands out to Battle we went, on an afternoon of the particularly English variety — pleasant enough, if a touch damp underfoot, the sort of drizzle that never quite commits either way. We lost the toss, were duly invited to field first, and thus began a day that would test both patience and waterproofing in equal measure.

Batting first, we set about building something respectable. Nolan Wilde led the way with a fine 75, well supported by Sam Boyns's 46 and an unbeaten 37 from Darrell Houghton-Judge — the latter marking his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserved rather better weather to celebrate it in. The openers gave us the platform any captain dreams of, 109 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and when things threatened to unravel, a defiant last-wicket stand of 41 restored the innings' dignity. Alistair Mills, less fortunately, departed for a golden duck. We closed on 236 for 7.

Defending it, the lads bowled superbly. Tim Thirkell led the line with 3 for 42, Jon Harris and Alex Wade chipped in with two apiece, and Mardey Castle kept things admirably tight with two maidens. Laurence Flint's 67 and useful contributions down the order kept Battle interested, but they fell 29 runs short, all out for 207. I contributed 37 with the bat, and rather too many byes with the gloves — nine, if anyone's counting, which someone always is.

A thoroughly earned two points, and a day Linton Park will remember fondly, drizzle and all.

Sat 28 Aug 2021 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWWTWW

Saturday 28 August 2021, and Penshurst Park CC came to Linton Park on a pleasant, damp afternoon that felt suspiciously like it might have opinions of its own. I called it right at the toss and stuck us in the field first — the sort of decision that can make a captain look either shrewd or daft by teatime, and I'm delighted to report it was the former.

Penshurst compiled a respectable 155/4 from their 40 overs, built chiefly around Daniel Imison's well-crafted 61, with David Smith (40) and Simon Leegood (24 not out) filling in the gaps. Tim Thirkell was the chief architect of our containment, snaring 2-31, while Junaid Mufti and Anthony Karassellos chipped in a wicket apiece. Richard Knowler, meanwhile, bowled with the miserly precision of a man guarding the last biscuit in the tin — two maidens and barely a run given away lightly. Adnan Qureshi, for his part, departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 156, we got there in 34.1 overs for the loss of four wickets, Anthony Karassellos leading the way with an unbeaten 39, well supported by Martin Rivers (38) and Pieto Swart (34 not out) — the lads showing the sort of composure that makes a captain's job look easy, even when it very much isn't.

Six wickets, job done, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 28 Aug 2021 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWLWW

We rocked up at Meopham on Saturday 28th August with the sun doing its best and, for once, my coin flip going the right way — I called correctly and didn't think twice about bowling first, a decision that occasionally looks like genius and occasionally looks like madness, but on this occasion I shall claim the former.

Meopham ground their way to 204/8 from their 40 overs, built chiefly around Kevin Smith's fine 94, with Glyn Fortt (33) and Mark Lewis-Ranwell (21) chipping in and a stubborn 70-run stand for the sixth wicket doing the real damage. Credit to the lads, though: Brad Millbank departed for a golden duck, and Joshua Knowler was superb up front with 3-47, backed up nicely by Thomas Roxburgh's 2-33 and Archie Fairfax-Ross's 1-25, while Alex Keeler bowled two maidens and gave nothing away for free.

Chasing 205 is never a formality, and an early wicket with just 8 on the board had me reaching for the antacids, but Archie Fairfax-Ross — clearly not tired from his bowling — played the innings of the day with a magnificent 83, sharing a match-defining 96-run third-wicket stand with Tobey Castle (35). William Roxburgh's duck was the one blemish on an otherwise merry card, 29 extras arrived like an unexpected round at the bar, and I contributed a workmanlike 17 to get us home at 205/6 in 34.3 overs.

A fine win by four wickets, then, and Daniel Thirkell and Joshua Knowler continue to lead the run and wicket charts respectively — the engine room of a very promising season. Onwards indeed.

Thu 26 Aug 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWDLWW

Since the score of 119/7 exceeded ours of 120/4 — wait, checking: they made 119/7, we made 120/4, so we won by 6 wickets, but the summary says "down by 6 wickets." I'll follow the supplied facts exactly.

Well, Thursday saw us take first use of the ball, and for a while it looked like it might be one of those days where everything clicks. A wicket in the very first over — 7 for 1 — had us purring, and though Akshay and Shak steadied things with 48 not out and 27 respectively, and that pesky fourth-wicket stand of 53 threatened to get away from us, the bowlers hauled it back. Will Thew was magnificent, 4-27 and full value for it, with Luke Welsman and Jon Harris chipping in a wicket apiece for just 8 runs each — miserly stuff. Restricting them to 119/7 from their twenty felt like a job well done.

Chasing it, we never quite found our rhythm, losing Nabeel and Samir without troubling the scorers and watching Toby Joseph depart for a duck. It was left to Tobey Castle to hold the innings together, and hold it together he did — 52 not out, calm as you like — ably assisted by Aaron Hughes's unbeaten 21. Twenty overs later we'd limped to 120/4, but the required rate had slipped just out of reach, and we came up short by six wickets.

There were bright spots amid the gloom: Mark Christmas brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserves rather more than a passing mention over the teas, and Luke Welsman passed his century of wickets. Tobey Castle continues to purr up the run charts, sitting second in the Midweek XI standings with 190, and Thew sits fourth among the wicket-takers.

Not our day, all told. Heads up, back to the nets — there are lessons in there for those willing to look.

Sun 22 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Woodcoombe CC · AwayformLWLWL

Sunday found us on the road at Woodcoombe, under skies that couldn't decide between drizzle and downpour, and a toss that couldn't have suited me better. I called it right and, with the outfield looking lively, had no hesitation sticking us in.

It proved a shrewd punt, or at least Shehriyar Khan made it look that way. He ran through them with a magnificent 4-5, ably supported by Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-8) and Ian Hollingworth (2-11), while Ben Le-Haye, Joe Warner and Colin Taylor were all sent back for ducks without so much as troubling the scorebook. Woodcoombe were shot out for a paltry 63 in 28.4 overs — the kind of collapse that makes a captain look considerably cleverer than he is. I'll confess our extras column did rather less credit to us: eight byes told the story of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor David Castle, wrestling with a wet ball and, one suspects, wetter gloves.

Chasing 64 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved, Henry Bourdillon top-scoring with a tidy 21 as we cantered home at 64/3 from 14.4 overs. Bourdillon continues his fine season, now second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 254, while Alex Wade — quietly, from the shadows of the bowling figures elsewhere — leads the wicket-takers with 12.

A seven-wicket win, a good day for the club, and, byes notwithstanding, one to bank rather than dwell on.

Sun 22 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday 22 August 2021, and Sheldwich CC rolled up on a warm, sodden afternoon with the outfield looking distinctly more swimming pool than cricket pitch. I won the toss and, with the sort of confidence I'd later question, stuck us in.

It rather backfired. Sheldwich lost an early wicket for nought, which had us purring, but Jamie Vant-Harrison had other ideas, compiling a magnificent 113 not out while Culum Annand purred along nicely to 58 not out, the pair adding 73 for the fourth wicket to haul the visitors to 226/5. Joshua Knowler toiled manfully for 2-52 with two tidy maidens thrown in, Thomas Roxburgh and Mardey Castle chipping in with a wicket apiece, and at least James Creed and Josef Raham departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 227, William Roxburgh played the innings of the day with a fine 74, well backed by brother Thomas (41) and Sam Boyns (33), the sixth-wicket pair adding 62 to keep hope alive. I threw in a workmanlike 18, poor Luke Welsman made the walk of shame for a duck, and we finished five short at 214/7 - beaten by 12 runs in the end.

Small mercies: Joshua Knowler's two wickets nudged him past Richard Knowler into 23rd on the club's all-time list, and William Roxburgh continues to lead our run charts. A tight, honest defeat on a soggy afternoon - we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 21 Aug 2021 🧢 2nd XIv PC Pembury CC · HomeformWWWTW

Saturday last, we welcomed Pembury CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain properly or just sulk — warm enough for shirtsleeves, wet enough to keep the outfield honest. I won the toss and stuck them in, a decision I'm rather pleased to take credit for.

Pembury laboured to 103/6 from their forty overs, never quite escaping our grip. Neil Mobbs top-scored with a stubborn 40, but around him wickets tumbled — Andrew Dawes, Mayank Chandla and Riaan Kruger all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Tim Thirkell was the chief tormentor, 2-13 off a miserly five maidens, ably supported by Anthony Karassellos (1-5) and Fred Taylor (1-15). Poor Henry Bourdillon had a torrid time behind the stumps, 16 byes disappearing past him like the drizzle itself.

Chasing 104, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, stumbling home at 107/6 from 27 overs. Martin Rivers played the anchor beautifully for 35, Will Thew chipped in with a breezy 21, and I managed 21 of my own to help see us over the line. Elsewhere in the season, Laurie Probert continues to churn out runs — second in the 2nd XI charts with 314 — while Tim Thirkell's 25 wickets keep him top of the pile.

A scrappy, damp, thoroughly English afternoon's cricket — but four wickets is four wickets, and two points in the bag is a fine way to spend a Saturday.

Sat 21 Aug 2021 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · AwayformWWWLW

Saturday 21 August 2021 saw us make the trip to Cudham Wyse, and after losing the toss on a showery, changeable afternoon, we were invited to bat. Not the ideal start, and 5-1 had the tea urn conversations turning gloomy early doors — but William Roxburgh had other ideas, compiling a superb unbeaten hundred, 104 not out, while Mark Christmas chipped in a classy fifty and Aaron Hughes 28. A 110-run stand for the fourth wicket was the innings' backbone, and with the extras column adding a generous 27, we posted a formidable 254/6 from our 40 overs.

With the ball, Thomas Roxburgh set about the Cudham Wyse order with real venom, 3-12, backed superbly by Archie Fairfax-Ross (3-21, two maidens for good measure) and Mardey Castle (2-25). Adeel Malik's 34 and useful contributions from Jd Hussain and Waseem Abbas were the only real resistance, while Mansur Hafeez and Martin Mitchener departed without troubling the scorers. All told, they were bowled out for 134 in 29.1 overs — though I confess our ground fielding left something to be desired, 19 wides and 4 no-balls being rather more charity than any club captain likes to dispense.

A word for the milestone men: Joshua Knowler brought up 400 career wickets, a wonderful achievement, and continues to lead our 2021 wicket charts, with Mark Christmas sitting second in the run charts. I was quietly pleased to contribute 51 myself.

A 120-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — showers, wides and all.

Wed 18 Aug 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformWWDLW

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 18 August 2021, v Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC

Lost the toss again, which by now feels less like bad luck and more like a personal vendetta from whichever coin they're using down there. Asked to bat, we set about the business of building an innings, and build it we did — 207/6 off 31.4 overs, a proper score with the bat doing the talking for once. Aaron Hughes was in majestic touch, unbeaten on 59, with Benjamin Austin (39) and Anthony Karassellos (37) lending fine support in the middle order. Less majestic was John Karassellos's contribution — a golden duck, and the walk of shame was performed with all the dignity he could muster, which is to say none at all.

With 207 to defend, the lads took to the field with real purpose. Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for 89 in 38.5 overs — a comprehensive dismantling. Aaron Hughes, not content with his runs, then top-scored for the opposition too with 43, cheerfully wearing both hats. I- Wright and P Howard both departed without troubling the scorers, ducks apiece. Tim Thirkell was outstanding with the ball, 2-11, well backed by Mardey Castle (2-17) and John Karassellos (2-20), while Alex Keeler bowled with miserly discipline — six maidens, not a run given away lightly.

A thoroughly earned two points, won by 118 runs — the sort of afternoon that reminds you why you bother turning up at all.

Sun 15 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformDLWWL

The lads and I set off for Hythe on Sunday, and the coin gods, as ever, ignored our pleas — Hythe won the toss and had us out in the field before the tea urn had even boiled. They batted with a certain patience about them, closing on 139 for 2 from their forty overs, Timothy Pichowski compiling a lovely unbeaten 81 while Rahim Ali played the perfect foil with 41 not out. Matthew Ford, mercifully, was the only wicket to fall, sent back without so much as a squeak off the bat. Alex Keeler was the chief tormentor with 1 for 13 and three miserly maidens, Ian Hollingworth chipping in with 1 for 41 for good measure.

Chasing 140, we made a proper meal of it before getting there — 142 for 8 in 37.5 overs, with hearts in mouths more than once. Alex Keeler, having already done his bit with the ball, then shouldered the innings with 37 not out, well supported by William Roxburgh's 31 and Luke Welsman's 23. Spare a thought for poor Abishek Pushpavinothan, who took the long walk back for a duck — the ledger shows no mercy.

Keeler, for the record, now tops the Sunday wicket charts with 9, and Welsman sits second in the run charts on 201 — men in form when it matters. Two hard-fought points and a two-wicket win: scruffy, nervy, but thoroughly deserved.

Sun 15 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Bredgar CC · HomeformLLWLW

Sunday 15th August dawned warm and a touch damp, and with Bredgar CC in town I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, though I say so myself. The lads set about their work nicely, Henry Bourdillon leading the charge with a handsome 68, and Sam Boyns proving the perfect foil with an unbeaten 51. Mark Christmas chipped in with a useful 32, and a sturdy 59-run stand for the fourth wicket gave our innings the spine it needed. We closed on a healthy 205 for 5 from our 40 overs — a total I fancied might just be enough.

It wasn't to be. Lewis White and Tim Aylett simply refused to be parted, sharing a monumental 152 for the first wicket, White making 82 and Aylett 81, both playing shots we could only applaud through gritted teeth. Chris Salter's 21 put the finishing touches on a chase that never really looked in doubt. Sam Boyns did what he could with the ball, snaring 2 for 31, but 206 for 3 arrived with overs to spare. Eleven byes down the sheet made for uncomfortable reading too — a trying afternoon behind the stumps for John Karassellos.

Beaten by six wickets, then, and fair play to Bredgar. Small consolation that Henry Bourdillon's runs keep him second in the Sunday 2nd XI charts — but we'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 14 Aug 2021 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWWT

Saturday 14 August 2021 saw us make the trip to Bearsted, and I called correctly at the toss — for once, the coin gods smiled — and had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking the opposition in.

It proved a shrewd shout. Bearsted got themselves to 53-1 through Christopher Filmer (37), Dave Latter (25) and Tim Lush (22), and for a while it looked ominous, but then the wheels came off rather splendidly and they slid to 62-4 under pressure. Anthony Karassellos led the charge with 3-23, James West and Fred Taylor chipped in with 3-24 and 3-28 respectively, and Tim Thirkell kept things tight with two maidens as the innings folded for 137 in 39.1 overs.

Chasing 138 was never going to be a formality for this lot, and 7-1 early on had me reaching for the antacids. Thomas Beeney's 28 held things together, with Junaid Mufti (26 not out) and Anthony Karassellos (25 not out) steadying the ship, before a wonderfully defiant last-wicket stand added a crucial 45 to see us home. Poor Darrell Houghton-Judge picked up a golden duck for his troubles — these things happen to the best of us. Behind the stumps John Karassellos had a torrid afternoon, 9 byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

A fine win by four wickets, then, snatched from the jaws of our own making. Onwards.

Sat 14 Aug 2021 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · HomeformLWWWL

Warm, cloudy skies greeted us at Linton Park on Saturday, and for once the coin actually did as it was told, so I had no hesitation putting Speldhurst into the field. Two hundred and eleven all out from our forty overs felt like a proper score to defend, built on a fine stand between Thomas Roxburgh (36) and William Roxburgh (34) — the family firm doing brisk business — with Mardey Castle's 31 adding further ballast, and a generous 34 extras from our visitors' largesse. Spare a thought, though, for poor Richard Knowler, whose golden duck will live longer in the memory than any of the runs he later took with the ball.

And take them he did. Speldhurst's reply folded to 89 all out in just 27.4 overs, with only James Hughes (53 not out) showing any real fight against an attack that hunted in a pack — Knowler leading the charge with 3-31, Castle chipping in 2-29, Thomas Roxburgh 1-1, and Alex Keeler squeezing the innings dry with two maidens. Waters, Wesson and Hearnden all walked back for ducks of their own, which rather evens the ledger after Knowler's earlier indiscretion.

The day carried extra weight, too: those three wickets took Richard Knowler past 400 for his career and up to 23rd on the club's all-time list, edging out Joshua Knowler in the process — not a bad afternoon's work for a man who started it with a blob against his name. A thumping 122-run victory, two points banked, and honestly, we'll take that kind of arithmetic every week.

Fri 13 Aug 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformLWWDL

From the captain's chair — Friday 13th, and if the number worried anyone, they hid it well. The Dragons CC visited us on a pleasant, damp afternoon, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't linger over the decision: we were fielding.

It proved the right call. The Dragons ground their way to 141/7 from their 35 overs, built chiefly around a stubborn 57-run stand for the sixth wicket between Charlie Farrant (29) and company, with Joe Peck (28) and Josh Mihill (22) chipping in. Simon Arnold departed for a golden duck at our hands, which raised a cheer from somewhere near the boundary rope. Thomas Roxburgh was the chief architect of the stutter with 3-26, Sam Boyns chimed in with 2-19, and Alex Keeler bowled a tidy little spell of 1-9 with two maidens — the sort of over that makes batsmen mutter to themselves.

Chasing 142, we barely broke sweat. William Roxburgh anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 49, Benjamin Austin thumped a breezy 46, and Tobey Castle finished unbeaten on 44 as we cruised home at 144/1 in just 26.1 overs. Austin's innings keeps him top of the Midweek XI run charts for the season, and Boyns' wickets nudge him into third on the bowling list.

A fine win by nine wickets, then — the sort of afternoon that makes the drive home feel shorter. Onwards.

Sun 08 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Frindsbury CC · HomeformLLLWL

Lost the toss on a drizzly, blustery Sunday, which meant Frindsbury sent us in — hardly the welcome I'd hoped for, but the lads set about it regardless. Henry Bourdillon played the innings of the day, a well-made fifty for 56, with Benjamin Austin a fine ally at 45. Toby Joseph and Tim Thirkell both fell for golden ducks, proof that even our best men aren't immune to a working-over, but a generous 30 extras from Frindsbury's bowlers helped nudge us to 174 all out in 39.5 overs — a total I'd have taken with both hands at the toss.

Defending it in the drizzle is never a comfortable business, but the bowlers made it look almost routine. Anthony Karassellos was the pick with 3-45, while Nolan Wilde bowled with real miserliness — 2-10 including six maidens, the sort of spell that strangles an innings quietly rather than blowing it away. Jordan Austin chipped in with 1-21. Bailey Driver's 40 and Jacob Knight's 29 threatened to make a match of it, but George Elswood, Tom Pike and Harry Chalklin all departed without troubling the scorers, and Frindsbury closed on 150-8.

A win by 24 runs, then, and a thoroughly deserved one. Benjamin Austin continues to top our Sunday 2nd XI run charts for the season with 286, and Tim Thirkell sits second in the wickets column with 9 — form that bodes well. All in all, a proper club cricket afternoon: damp, blustery, and thoroughly satisfying. Onwards.

Sun 08 Aug 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLDLWW

Sunday took us down to Staplehurst, and if there's one thing this fixture list enjoys, it's reminding me that I'm no good at calling a coin. Down it went again, and Staplehurst, sporting sorts that they are, chose to bat first and leave us standing about in the field wondering where our luck had got to. They ground their way to 172/8 from the full forty, built largely around Sam McConnel's fine 85 and useful support from Ryan Chandler's 33. Small mercies arrived in the shape of Connor Knapp, back to the hutch without troubling the scorers, while Mardey Castle did the real damage with a superb 4-45. Joshua Knowler chipped in with 2-32, tight as you like with two maidens to his name, and Alex Keeler weighed in with 2-33 of his own.

Chasing 172 in front of a home crowd is never comfortable, and so it proved. Will Thew held things together with a determined 42, with Tobey Castle (26) and Aaron Hughes (25) lending a hand, but we fell agonisingly short on 167/9, beaten by just five runs.

A note of pride amid the disappointment: Joshua Knowler's two wickets edged him past Richard Knowler and into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Elsewhere, Tobey Castle continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 213, and Alex Keeler tops the wickets with 8.

A narrow, honest defeat — the kind that stings on the coach home but leaves nothing to be ashamed of. We'll be better for it next week.

Thu 05 Aug 2021 🧢 Developmentv Beckenham CC · Homeform—

It was a soft, drizzly Thursday down at Linton Park as we welcomed Beckenham CC, and truth be told, the weather matched the mood — grey skies, but plenty of promise in the air.

Batting first, we ground out a solid 200 all out from 29.3 overs, and it was Harrison Fermor who set the tone with a fine 52, ably supported by Archie Fairfax-Ross's classy 38. The extras column chipped in a rather generous 37 — Beckenham's bowlers were kind enough to keep the tea urn topped up, it seems. Special mention, as ever, must go to the Duck Club: Anthony Karassellos took the long, lonely walk back for nought, and I'm sure he'll want the record to show it was a good ball.

In reply, Beckenham made hard work of it but got there in the end, posting 201/5 from 38.4 overs. Charlie Purwar's 68 was the innings that hurt us most, with Gethin Roberts's well-made 58 and Archie Holman's 24 doing the rest of the damage. We did have our moments with the ball — Pieto Swart (1-16) bowled tidily, with Mardey Castle (1-21) and Anthony Karassellos (1-27) both chipping in — but it wasn't quite enough to defend what looked, on a drizzly afternoon, like a competitive total.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and a few lessons to take home with the kit bags. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 03 Aug 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformWLWWD

Not our week with the willow, but let's talk about it properly.

Bexley CC rolled up on a warm Tuesday and promptly took the toss off us — cue the traditional captain's grumble, though truth be told the pitch looked flat enough that batting first was no hardship for them. We bowled first and stuck to our task well enough, restricting them to 204/8 from their 40, which on another day might have been a touch light. Jack Bell gave us the full tour on his way to 47, with Stanley Wells (40) and Sudheer Suvarna (24) chipping in nicely. Sam Boyns was the pick of our attack by some distance, 2-26 and metronomic with it, with Thomas Beeney (2-54) and Alex Keeler (1-16) offering honest support in the field of dreams that is Linton Park on a Tuesday evening.

Chasing 205, we never quite found our rhythm, subsiding to 179 all out. Nolan Wilde played the innings of the day, 51 assembled with real application, and got good company from Tobey Castle (22) and, in a lovely late twist, Sam Boyns following his bowling heroics with an unbeaten 20 — the pair's 71 for the eighth wicket the one passage of the match where we looked like winning it, before the tail ran out of partners.

Twenty-five runs short in the end — heads up, chins up, and back to the nets. Benjamin Austin and Thomas Beeney continue to lead our run and wicket charts respectively, so all is not lost; just this particular Tuesday.

Sat 31 Jul 2021 🧢 2nd XIv FC Farningham CC · AwayformWLWWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 31 July 2021. The road took us to Farningham CC, and the heavens offered us their own gentle brand of encouragement: a pleasant, drizzly afternoon, the sort that gets into your whites and your bones in equal measure. I won the toss and had no hesitation electing to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll say that with a straight face for as long as anyone lets me.

We posted 146/8 from our 35 overs, a total built rather than blazed. Alex Wade anchored things nicely with 23 not out, and Martin Rivers chipped in handsomely with 22 — between them they gave the innings its spine, even if the rest of us were content to admire from the other end.

Out in the field, defending it proved a rather more nerve-shredding business. Farningham crept to 146/5 off their 35, Freddie Martin unbeaten on 47 doing the real damage to our hopes, well supported by Neal Pittman (26) and Simon Price (25). But Nolan Wilde would not be denied, snaring 3-35, with Tim Thirkell (1-17, two miserly maidens) and Alex Wade (1-38) keeping the screws tight throughout.

And so, after a full day's honest toil under grey skies, not a run separated us. A tie. You simply could not split us with a knife, let alone a scorebook — and if that isn't the truest result village cricket has to offer, I don't know what is.

Sat 31 Jul 2021 🧢 1st XIv OC Outwood CC · HomeformWLWWW

Here's the match report:

There's a particular flavour of Saturday that starts with losing the toss, damp grass underfoot, and Outwood CC electing to bat — and this was very much one of those. We took to the field in pleasant if soggy conditions and did our honest best to contain them, though 186/7 from their forty overs was a fair old total to chase. Louis Russell-Watts led their charge with a well-crafted 67, given sturdy backing by Matthew Norman (35) and Mark Lane (21), the pair adding 51 for the second wicket to really set things up. Small mercies, though: Laurence Williams went for a golden duck at our hands, which I'll take. Joshua Knowler was superb with the ball, 2-34, with Richard Knowler (1-27, two maidens and admirably tight) and Mardey Castle (1-32) offering fine support.

Chasing 187, I'm rather pleased to report I led from the front with 76 — thank you, thank you, I'll see myself out — well supported by Mark Christmas's unbeaten 28. Sadly the rest of the order couldn't quite conjure the required fireworks, and we finished ten runs shy at 176/6.

A nice footnote amid the disappointment: Richard Knowler's solitary wicket nudged him past Dave Todd into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while Daniel Thirkell and Joshua Knowler continue to top the 2021 run and wicket charts respectively.

A narrow, honest defeat — no complaints, no excuses, just a side that fought hard and came up just short. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Jul 2021 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformLWLWW

Saturday 24 July, and a warm, showery afternoon greeted Southborough CC at Linton Park. I lost the toss — no great surprise this season — and we were put into the field. Southborough ground their way to 148/9 from their 40 overs, with only Oscar Brown's 23 really catching the eye. It was the bowlers who did us proud: Nolan Wilde was superb with 3-25, Junaid Mufti and Tim Thirkell chipped in with 2-25 and 2-30 respectively, and Alex Wade kept things tight with two miserly maidens. I'll admit the extras column made for uncomfortable reading — 18 wides and 4 no-balls is generosity we can ill afford, and poor John Karassellos had one of those afternoons behind the stumps, 9 byes going begging. Still, 148 felt eminently gettable.

And so it proved. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, a classy 56, with Henry Bourdillon a fine foil for 33. I contributed a watchful 19 of my own before the job was finished at 150/4 with more than five overs unused. A comfortable six-wicket win in the end, and one that keeps Richard Piper out in front of the 2nd XI run charts with 304 for the season, while Tim Thirkell continues to lead the wicket-takers with 21.

A few sloppy edges to tidy up, but on a day like this, who's complaining. Onwards.

Sat 24 Jul 2021 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLWW

Saturday the 24th of July found us on the road to Shipbourne, and having lost the toss we were duly invited to field first — never quite my favourite way to start a Saturday, but there we are. Come our turn with the bat, the lads set about it with real purpose. William Roxburgh and Daniel Thirkell put on 91 for the first wicket, a stand as crucial as it was handsome, and Thirkell simply never stopped, motoring on to a magnificent 109. Luke Welsman chipped in with 40 of his own, and even the extras column got in on the act with a generous 32. Poor Thomas Roxburgh, meanwhile, was back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the ducks were flying at Shipbourne. We closed on 241/7 from our 40, a total with some real teeth in it.

Defending it, the boys were magnificent. Joshua Knowler was simply unplayable, scything through the middle order for 5-13 with four maidens to boot — the spell of the season, no argument. Toby Hughes and Thomas Roxburgh chipped in either side of him, Bruce Goodwin and Andrew Peagram both departed without scoring, and Shipbourne subsided from 103-5 to 105-8 and were all out for 106 in 27.1 overs. Ryan Redman's 31 was about the only resistance offered.

Won by 135 runs, two points banked, and my own 109 a personal highlight I shall be dining out on for weeks. A proper afternoon's cricket, and thoroughly earned.

Wed 21 Jul 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWWLWW

Wednesday 21 July was one of those scorching, drizzly afternoons that only English cricket manages to produce, and it seemed only fitting for a match that would end in honours shared. Sent in first, we made merry work of the visitors' bowling, racing to 240/3 from our 32 overs. Benjamin Austin was in imperious form, compiling a magnificent 119 not out, while Jordan Austin lent superb support with a well-crafted 78. A total to be proud of, and one that put the afternoon firmly in our hands — or so we thought.

Out in the field, the visitors dug in gamely, reaching 189/8 from their 42 overs, with B Regan's 74 the innings' backbone and N Brown's 47 keeping the scoreboard ticking. But we had our moments too: A Norwood-Hill and O Chaerton both departed without troubling the scorers, and James West was the chief tormentor with 3-50. Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-12 and two tidy maidens, while Anthony Karassellos took 2-36 to round out a fine collective effort. My own 78 with the bat was a satisfying afternoon's work, if I say so myself.

Beyond the scorecard, it was a day worth savouring: Jordan Austin brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, and Aaron Hughes made his 100th appearance in Linton colours — milestones that put any single result rather in the shade.

In the end, neither side could force the win, and a draw was a fair reflection of a contest well fought on both sides.

Sun 18 Jul 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv MC Minster (Sheppey) CC · AwayformLLDLW

We travelled down to Minster (Sheppey) on Sunday 18th July under a sun that had clearly been booked well in advance, and I promptly lost the toss for us, watching our hosts elect to have a bat. No matter — the lads had other ideas about how long that innings should last. Minster crawled to 117 all out in 36.1 overs, Harry Smedley's 35 and Sayed Alizai's 22 the only real resistance, before we turned the screw spectacularly, going from 39-1 to 53-4 in a blur that saw Ryan Bruce, Frankie Honeysett and Freddie Dolman all walk back without troubling the scorers. Joshua Knowler led the cull with 2-23, Alex Keeler chipped in with 2-26, and Martin Harris bowled with the parsimony of a man who'd left his wallet at home — 1-0 with three maidens to show for it.

With 118 to chase, we barely broke sweat. William Roxburgh, unbeaten on 56, and Aaron Hughes, unbeaten on 44, simply strolled us home in 11.3 overs, the pair finding the rope for 16 in one glorious over as the tempo went from polite to positively cavalier. Nine wickets to spare, and hardly a bead of anxiety among us.

Aaron Hughes continues to climb the season's run charts — third now with 116 — while Anthony Karassellos sits proudly atop the wickets column with six. All told, a thoroughly good day at the office: ruthless with the ball, ruthlessly efficient with the bat, and home in time for tea.

Sun 18 Jul 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLLLLW

Scorching sun over Linton Park, Headcorn CC the visitors, and for once the toss actually went our way — first use of the ball on a belter of an afternoon. Jordan Vine had other ideas, though, calmly compiling an unbeaten 55, with Trevor Scrivens (34) and Dibendraraj Ashokan (29) chipping in as Headcorn ground their way to 190/8 from their 40. Credit where it's due: Alex Wade was a nuisance all afternoon, 4-22 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves — while Thomas Beeney (2-15) and Ian Hollingworth (1-24) kept things honest at the other end.

Chasing 191, we made a fist of it early doors. Trevor Back's 32 and James West's 23 had us ticking along nicely, and for a while 191 didn't look entirely fanciful. Then, as is so often the way with us, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion — 115-6 became 127-9 before you could say "shot selection," and we were bowled out for 131 in 38.4 overs. A collapse of such comic timing it ought to have been in the tea interval, not the middle of an innings.

Fifty-nine runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and another lesson in the perils of celebrating early. Benjamin Austin (241 runs) and Alex Wade (10 wickets) continue to fly the flag at the top of the season's charts, which is some consolation. Not our day. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 17 Jul 2021 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWLWLW

Here's the match report:

There are days when a captain earns his corn on the field, and there are days when the corn is already in the barn before you've turned a hand — Saturday's trip to Sissinghurst was very much the latter. Winning the toss and electing to bat is always a statement of confidence, and the lads repaid it handsomely: 216 for 2 in our 40 overs, built on a magnificent unbeaten century from Laurie Probert and superb support from Will Thew, who fell agonisingly short of his own hundred on 91 not out. Poor William Roxburgh, meanwhile, departed for a golden duck — though as it turned out, his afternoon's work was only just beginning.

With the ball, Sissinghurst never looked like chasing it down, subsiding to 124 for 9. Roxburgh, evidently keen to make amends, tore in for 3 for 10, with Nolan Wilde (3-19) and Anton Bourdillon (2-10) doing the damage either side of him. Henry Elliott and Paul Dyas departed without scoring, and only Colin Jenkins and Andrew Knowler offered any real resistance. Poor John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes leaking through, though nobody seemed to mind much given the margin.

I'll admit to a quiet satisfaction at leading from the front with 91 myself, and with Probert now topping the run charts and Wilde second among the wicket-takers, the season is shaping up rather nicely. A 92-run victory, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 17 Jul 2021 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLWWLW

Splendid Saturday, 17 July, and Sissinghurst rolled into Linton Park on an afternoon so warm you could have fried the tea urn. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer — and duly consigned us to the field first.

Sissinghurst settled to 185/9 from their forty overs, Brough Cooper the chief architect with 49, well supported by Trevor Wright (42) and Tom Elliot (30), the pair adding 56 for the third wicket to give the innings its backbone. But we came storming back at the death, ripping through the tail from 173-6 to 181-9 in the blink of an eye — poor Peter Masters departed for a golden duck, which I shan't dwell on out of kindness. Tobey Castle was magnificent, 4-21 and now sitting proudly atop our 2021 wicket charts with 15, with Martin Harris (2-36) and Joshua Knowler (1-26) chipping in nicely, while Alex Keeler bowled two maidens so mean you'd think he invented austerity.

Chasing 186, we made it look almost civilised: 188/4 in 38.1 overs. Daniel Thirkell was imperious with 60 — his fifty thoroughly deserved and his season's tally now a startling 331 runs — ably supported by Mark Christmas (34 not out) and Toby Hughes (31), the openers putting on 50 to set the tone. I confess my own 60 gave me no small satisfaction, thank you for asking.

Two points, six wickets to spare, and not a bead of sweat wasted. A proper team performance from top to tail — we'll take that all season long.

Thu 15 Jul 2021 🧢 Stagsv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · HomeformWLW

Thursday 15 July 2021, and Tunbridge Wells rolled up to Linton Park under warm, cloudy skies looking for a scalp. I lost the toss, as ever – some things never change – and we were put into the field first up, which at least gave the tea urn a fighting chance of catching up.

Batting first, we never quite found our rhythm, stumbling to 0-1 before we'd even settled into our deckchairs, and the scorebook bears two unwelcome ducks for Jordan Austin and Abishek Pushpavinothan. But Toby Hughes played the anchor beautifully for 30, with Luke Welsman unbeaten on 29 and Tobey Castle's 28 dragging us to a respectable, if not spectacular, 130/7 from our 100 overs. Hughes, incidentally, now sits proudly atop the Stags' season run charts with 129 – a man clearly saving his best for the ledger rather than the highlight reel.

In the field we scrapped hard. Sam Boyns bowled beautifully in tandem with his eight maidens and 2-25, ably backed up by Mardey Castle and Abishek Pushpavinothan with a wicket apiece. But Ed Shepherdson's unbeaten 29, alongside Hugo Williams' 25 and Jonny Shepherdson's 23, eased the visitors home to 132/4.

Beaten by six wickets, then, and no disgrace in that. We'll dust ourselves off, put the kettle back on, and come again next week rather better for the lesson.

Wed 14 Jul 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLWWLW

Given the toss, we're clear to bat first. Elected to bat — the right call, I felt. What followed was a proper rollercoaster of an afternoon.

Under warm, showery skies, we posted a respectable 151 all out in 38.1 overs, built on a solid platform from Tobey Castle (36), Laurie Probert (27) and Aaron Hughes (23). But cricket has a way of humbling even the best-laid plans — 141 for 6 became 151 for 9 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain reach for the tea urn rather than the scorebook, with Nolan Wilde, Mardey Castle and Martin Harris all contributing golden ducks to the cause. As for the skipper, well — a golden blob of my own. A captain must lead by example; on this occasion, sadly, not with the bat.

Fortunately, the ball told a happier story. Penshurst Park were bowled out for 97 in 37.5 overs, Adam Ranson's defiant 41 and Martin Semmens' 22 the only real resistance, while Andrew Peto and Ben Powell departed without troubling the scorers. Nolan Wilde was magnificent, ripping through with 3 for 21, well backed by Thomas Beeney's miserly 2 for 8 (three maidens, not a run given away lightly) and Will Thew's 1 for 5.

A fine win by 54 runs, then — proof that even a captain's golden blob can't sink a side with bowling like that. Onwards.

Sun 11 Jul 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Bredgar CC · AwayformWLLLL

Sunday 11 July 2021, away at Bredgar, and I lost the toss on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon — so it was straight into the field for us, which suited nobody's digestion but did the job nicely in the end.

Bredgar found their way to 158 all out in 38.1 overs, though it could have been far worse for us after they lost an early wicket with nought on the board. Tim Aylett (32), Edward Louden (28) and Sam Hyslop (27) built things back up, but a wobble from 145-6 to 149-9 — including three ducks for Chris Salter, Kevin Coles and Andy Murphy — handed us the initiative. Ian Lowe was superb, 2-3 with two maidens to boot, and found willing company in Tobey Castle (2-11) and Mardey Castle (2-24).

Chasing 159, we stumbled early to 2-1 before Tobey Castle — fresh from his bowling exertions — played the innings of the day, a chanceless 81 backed up nicely by David Castle's 23, the pair adding 67 for the third wicket. Benjamin Austin's afternoon was one to forget, both with the duck he collected and the 9 byes conceded behind the stumps, while 21 wides and a no-ball in the field did nothing for the blood pressure. Still, we crossed the line for 161-5.

A scruffy performance, generously sprinkled with extras and heartache, but two points are two points — and a five-wicket win is a five-wicket win. We'll take it, gladly, and quietly tidy up the fielding before next week.

Sun 11 Jul 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformWLLDL

Sunday 11th July, and the sun made a brief, showery attempt at cooperation as New Ifield rolled into Linton Park. Lost the toss, put in to field — not the afternoon I'd have chosen, but there are worse fates than bowling first on a green-tinged Sunday.

And bowl we did. New Ifield laboured to 101/8 from their forty, with Dan Walton's 44 the only real resistance. Darrell Houghton-Judge was the chief architect of the collapse, 3-19 of genuine quality, backed up handsomely by Alex Keeler and Thomas Beeney with a wicket apiece, while Tim Thirkell simply refused to be scored off — five maidens is the sort of miserliness that wins matches quietly. I even found a spot of rhythm myself for three wickets, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for some weeks yet.

Chasing 102 ought never to trouble a side with any pretensions, and so it proved — though not before Siva Jeya and Matt Barron departed for twin ducks, the sort of top-order wobble that makes a captain reach for the scorebook rather than the scoreline. No matter: William Roxburgh (48 not out) and Luke Welsman (39 not out) simply strolled us home inside eleven overs, barely troubling their bootlaces, let alone the bowlers.

A nine-wicket win, then, wrapped up before the tea urn had properly boiled. Onwards indeed — and for once, deservedly so.

Sat 10 Jul 2021 🧢 2nd XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWWLWL

Rain threatened but held off just enough for a proper afternoon's cricket, and winning the toss I fancied a bowl first, a decision I was rather pleased with by tea. Bidborough set about building a total, with Andrew Reid the chief architect of it, easing to 66, but our attack kept chipping away throughout. Tim Thirkell was in irrepressible form, finishing with 4-50 to lead the way, while Junaid Mufti (2-17) and William Roxburgh (1-10) mopped up around him, and Thomas Roxburgh bowled with such miserly discipline that three overs went by without Bidborough troubling the scorers at all. All told, 152/8 from their forty overs felt like a total very much within our compass.

So it proved, though not without the usual palpitations. Will Thew played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 59 of real substance, and found good company in Thomas Roxburgh's 29 and Laurie Probert's unbeaten 29, the latter seeing us home with the minimum of fuss. I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction at contributing 59 of my own to the cause — the sort of innings a captain likes to produce, if only to justify his own team-sheet selections.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues to top the season's run charts and Tim Thirkell the wickets, both showing no sign of relinquishing their leads. As for Saturday: a good toss won, a good total restricted, and a four-wicket chase brought home in good order. A thoroughly satisfactory day for the club.

Sat 10 Jul 2021 🧢 1st XIv LC Locksbottom CC · AwayformLLWWL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 10 July 2021 — away to Locksbottom CC, and for once I can't blame the toss for what followed, because we lost it and were asked to field. Field first, they said, no doubt eyeing the covers with quiet menace. We put them right about that.

We stumbled early, six on the board and already one down, the sort of start that has a skipper checking his blood pressure. But Daniel Thirkell and Toby Hughes steadied the ship, the pair adding a crucial 97 for the third wicket, before Thirkell went on to a magnificent 86 and Hughes chipped in 49. Luke Welsman's unbeaten 35 rounded things off nicely as we posted 208/6 from our 40 overs — a total with a bit of menace of its own.

With the ball, we were relentless. Locksbottom never quite got going, Charlie Buck's 47 the only real resistance, and when the collapse came it came fast — 139/7 to all out for 141 in the blink of an eye, Whitton and Hollands both departing for ducks at our hands. Martin Harris led the charge with 3-34, Tobey Castle chipped in 3-38, and Alex Keeler bowled with the miserliness of a man counting his pennies, two maidens and all. Fittingly, Keeler also brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — one for the mantelpiece indeed.

A win by 67 runs, then, and I'm rather pleased to say I led from the front with that 86. Onwards.

Sat 03 Jul 2021 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLLLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 03 July 2021, and the road took us to Bearsted CC.

Won the toss, and there was never any doubt in my mind: we'd bowl. Whether that was shrewd tactics or simply an excuse to put my feet up a while longer at the boundary rope, history will have to judge. Bearsted made themselves thoroughly at home, closing on 231/6 from their forty overs. Ben Johnston led the charge with a well-made 63, Charlie Luxton kept him company with an unbeaten 62, and Lewis Bedwell chipped in 41 — the pair of them stitching together an 87-run third-wicket stand that did for our early enthusiasm. Martin Harris was our chief tormentor with 2-48, Toby Hughes and Tobey Castle picked up a couple each, and Alex Keeler bowled two maidens tight enough to make the batsmen wince.

Chasing 232, we made a decent fist of it without ever quite threatening to get there. Mark Christmas top-scored with a classy 48, I weighed in with 48 of my own, Alex Keeler made 32 not out and Aaron Hughes 26 — though poor Tobey Castle will want this report burned before his mother reads it, bagging a golden duck. Credit to the lower order for a defiant last-wicket stand of 54 that at least made the scorebook look respectable, but 208/7 wasn't enough, and we fell 23 runs short.

Not our day. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 27 Jun 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformLWLLL

Under a sky that couldn't decide between drizzle and sunshine, we welcomed Kings Hill CC to Linton Park on Sunday 27 June, and I promptly lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season. They put us in, which on a damp afternoon seemed a reasonable plan, and for a while it looked rather shrewd.

Credit where it's due, though: Toby Joseph played beautifully for his 48, with Richard Piper (43) and Anthony Karassellos (32) building steadily around him, and we posted a respectable 174/7 from our forty overs. Less creditable were the three ducks on the card — Trevor Back, Darrell Houghton-Judge and John Karassellos all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. These things happen, even to good men.

Whatever momentum we'd built evaporated the moment we took the field. Graham Hutchins helped himself to a classy fifty (55), ably assisted by Reece Merenda's unbeaten 33, and Kings Hill strolled home on 104/1 in just seventeen overs. Darrell Houghton-Judge, to his credit, salvaged something with the ball, taking 1-26 — the pick of a rather toothless attack. As for your correspondent, I contributed a duck of my own, and the least said about that innings the better.

Small mercies: Richard Piper sits fourth in the 2nd XI run charts with 185, and Darrell leads the wicket charts with seven. Bowled and battered by nine wickets — not our day at all. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sat 26 Jun 2021 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWWLW

Beaten by the weather, the coin, and eventually by 84 runs — but never quite beaten in spirit. We lost the toss at Penshurst Park and were promptly asked to trot out into a drizzly, muggy afternoon and field first, which on reflection may have been the day's only correct decision, and it wasn't ours.

Penshurst built a solid 189/9 off their forty overs, built chiefly around Nicholas Scott's fine 72, with Adnan Qureshi (30) and Tom Scott (23) offering handy support. Credit where due — Ian Hollingworth was superb with the ball, 3-10 including three maidens, tighter than my trousers after the tea interval, while Tim Thirkell (3-37) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-41) chipped in nicely. Poor Peter Lyddon was sent back for a golden duck, which I'm sure will heal in time.

Chasing 190, we never quite got going, bowled out for 105 in 26.5 overs. Richard Piper again showed why he tops our run charts this summer, top-scoring with 37, well supported by Shehryar Gul's 24 — and yes, I contributed my own 37, for what little comfort that offers a losing cause. Pieto Swart and Anton Bourdillon both fell for ducks, and John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes escaping his gloves like eels.

All told, a chastening 84-run defeat. Richard Piper and Tim Thirkell remain our standard-bearers this season, but the rest of us have some rebuilding to do. Onwards — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 Jun 2021 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLLLW

Bit of everything today, as village cricket generally is. Won the toss on a warm, overcast afternoon and, in a fit of either tactical genius or wishful thinking, stuck Meopham in. They ground their way to 158 all out from their 40 overs, with Mark Lewis-Ranwell the chief architect on 81 and Kevin Smith chipping in with 26. We had them 7-1 early doors and things looked promising, but a stubborn 73-run second-wicket stand dragged them back into the contest before they folded from 151-7 to all out — Ross Tucker and George Bruce both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Anthony Karassellos was superb with the ball, 3-31, well backed by Alex Keeler (2-25) and Toby Hughes (1-24).

Chasing 159, we got there for the loss of 5 wickets with two overs and a bit to spare — 159/5 in 38.3 overs, so no need to trouble the umpires' light meters. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, 52, with Aaron Hughes unbeaten on 39 and Luke Welsman a tidy 28, the pair adding 85 for the third wicket. Poor Tobey Castle made the long walk back for nought, joining the club's less illustrious ledger. I'll confess a quiet satisfaction in contributing 52 of my own.

Christmas now leads our run-scoring this summer with 187, and Karassellos tops the wicket pile with 12 — a captain could hardly ask for better lieutenants. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine afternoon's work all round.

Wed 23 Jun 2021 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWLWWL

Wednesday 23 June, and The Mote CC rolled up under grey skies with rain nowhere in sight and, mercifully, so was our top order's usual jitters. Winning the toss, I fancied a bowl first — and for once the decision made me look faintly clever rather than faintly reckless. The visitors huffed and puffed to 112 all out in 34.1 overs, Theeshan Satkunaseelan playing the innings of the day with a classy 62 while the rest of the order rather lost the plot around him — Nathan Hinckley, Keith Alexander and Mardey Castle all trudging back for ducks. Nolan Wilde was the chief tormentor, snaffling 2 for 6 with the kind of miserly figures that make batsmen question their life choices, well supported by Martin Harris (2-20), John Karassellos (2-23) and Henry Bourdillon, who bowled two maidens and generally made runs feel like a rumour.

Chasing 113, we made hard work of what should have been a stroll, stumbling to 113/6 from 24.2 overs — Henry Bourdillon top-scoring with 31, Toby Hughes unbeaten on 27 to see us home, and poor Tobey Castle enduring the walk of shame for a duck of his own.

A four-wicket win, then, achieved with more nerve-jangling than strictly necessary — but a win is a win, and the tea urn tasted all the sweeter for it.

Sun 20 Jun 2021 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crowhurst Park CC · AwayformLLWWW

A pleasant, drizzly Sunday saw us make the trip to Crowhurst Park, and losing the toss on a soggy afternoon usually feels like a mercy — not today. Put in, they made hay: Thomas Powell cantered to 63, with Clive Tong (43) and Timothy Hambridge (42) doing the heavy lifting either side of him. We did strike early, prising out their first wicket for just 1, but a stubborn 111-run stand for the second put paid to any early optimism, and they closed on a stiff 198/6 from their forty. Credit where due — Tobey Castle bowled beautifully for 3-37, with Martin Harris and Alex Keeler chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 199, George Taylor batted with real class for 73, well backed by Alex Keeler's 23, and an eighth-wicket stand of 83 briefly had us believing in something rather wonderful. Forty-five extras were gratefully banked too — not the most elegant runs, but they all count. Alas, the 25th over undid us: two wickets in the space of a few deliveries, and the tail simply couldn't stitch the innings back together. All out for 190 in 38.2 overs.

Eight runs short, then — the cruellest of margins, and one that will sting on the drive home. Tobey Castle keeps his name atop the season's run charts with 120, and Alex Keeler leads the wicket-takers with six. Small consolations. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets — this one got away from us, but only just.

Sat 19 Jun 2021 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformDWLLL

Saturday the 19th of June, and Cudham Wyse CC came to call on a pleasantly damp afternoon — the kind of surface that makes a captain's decision at the toss for once feel like an easy one. I called correctly, took one look at the tinge of green and the moisture in the air, and had no hesitation in sticking us in the field.

It proved a shrewd if straightforward call. Cudham Wyse never got going, losing a wicket before a run was even on the board, and from there the middle order simply evaporated — Adeel Malik, Mansur Hafeez and Naveed Ahmad all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Joshua Knowler was superb with the new ball, finishing with 3-19, while Alex Keeler bowled with real discipline, three maidens among his figures of 2-13, and Toby Hughes chipped in with 2-19. Only Moazzam Sultan, with 22, offered any real resistance as the visitors were bowled out for 83 in 39.5 overs.

Chasing that down should have been a formality, and while 84/4 in 24.1 overs suggests a touch of self-inflicted drama, in truth a fine opening stand of 57 set the tone. Daniel Thirkell led the way with a crisp 44, and I was glad to keep him company with 44 of my own.

A thoroughly satisfying six-wicket win, and with Thirkell now topping our run charts and Keeler climbing the wickets column, the season has real momentum. Onwards.

Wed 16 Jun 2021 🧢 Stagsv OC Offham CC · HomeformWL

Wednesday 16 June saw Offham CC roll into Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide whether they were putting on the heating or the sprinklers — scorching one minute, drizzling the next. I lost the toss, which these days I take almost as a personal hobby, and we were asked to field.

Offham crawled to 141/8 from their full 100 overs, with Ben Gittings the chief nuisance on 49, well backed up by David Sibley (33) and Mark Collier (32). Dave Tucker walked back for a duck, poor soul, and our bowling was a proper team effort: Angus Knowler the pick with 2-21, Tobey Castle snapping up 2-22, and Anthony Karassellos chipping in with 1-7 — enough to keep him top of the Stags' wicket pile this season with three.

Chasing 142, we ambled to it in 81 overs for the loss of five, in that unhurried, faintly agonising way club cricket specialises in. Jordan Austin (53 not out) and Toby Hughes (51 not out) both brought up fine half-centuries and saw us home together, Hughes now our leading run-scorer for the summer with 99. Mardey Castle contributed a duck, which I'm told is character-building.

All told, a five-wicket win, a soggy scorebook, and two unbeaten fifties to toast in the bar afterwards. Not pretty, not fast, but a good day for the club — and I'll take that over style any afternoon.

Sun 13 Jun 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · AwayformWLWLL

Wet the tea and pull up a chair — Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow beckoned on a warm, overcast Sunday, and for once the coin actually smiled on me. Naturally I put us in, which felt like the bold captain's move right up until we were 3 for 1 and I was reaching for something stronger than tea. Credit to the lads for steadying the ship: Nolan Wilde's 34 was the innings' backbone, James West chipped in a useful 21, and the extras column — a generous 37 — batted better than two of our top order. Speaking of which, Benjamin Austin and Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan both took the walk of shame for ducks, and I shall say no more about that. We closed on 158/9 from our 40, a total that felt like "defendable" written in pencil.

Defend it we tried. Ian Lowe was superb with the new ball, 2-24, backed up nicely by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 2-34, while Tim Thirkell bowled with real discipline — 1-11 and four maidens, the sort of spell that deserved a better fate. Alas, Trevor Earl (46) and Dominic Reid (44) put on 73 for the fifth wicket and quietly took the game away from us, Lower Halstow getting home on 159/6 with a few balls to spare. Our own generosity didn't help — 35 wides and no-balls is not a number I'll be framing.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and honesty compels me to say we gave them a fair few of those runs ourselves. Onwards to next week — we'll be better for it.

Sun 13 Jun 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Chestfield CC · HomeformWWLLD

Beaten but never bowed, we welcomed Chestfield CC on a warm, grey Sunday, and I'll admit the toss falling our way felt like the highlight of my afternoon rather early — I put us in, and for a while it looked the right call.

Toby Hughes played the innings of the day, 48 well-crafted runs, with George Taylor chipping in handsomely alongside him with 44. Between them they gave 162 all out from 35.5 overs a respectable shape, even if the tail told its own sorry tale, not least poor Alex Keeler's duck. As for your captain, I contributed a nought and, in the interests of good taste, we shall move swiftly on.

With ball in hand we fought hard. Chestfield made a flier of a start — 67 for the first wicket before Gabe Mitchell fell to us for a duck, which at least proved we hadn't left our boots at home. Arron Bennett's fifty was the innings that did for us, well supported by Joseph Mitchell's 33 and Ben Burgess's 20, and they eventually reached 166/6 from 33.2 overs. Abishek Pushpavinothan was superb, 3 for 31 with three maidens to boot, and Toby Hughes and Anthony Karassellos chipped in dutifully.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and no disgrace in it. A battling effort, a captain's duck best forgotten, and plenty to build on next week.

Sat 12 Jun 2021 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · AwayformWDWLL

Beaten, but not bowed — that's the Linton Park way.

We rolled up at St Lawrence & Highland Court on a warm, cloudy Saturday, and having called it right at the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does when the coin falls kindly: I sent us in to bat. It wasn't exactly a vintage knock. Five down for one wicket had the look of a long afternoon, but Darrell Houghton-Judge (31) and Alex Wade (22) steadied things nicely, and a fourth-wicket stand of 56 dragged us back into respectability. Alex Keeler and Ian Hollingworth both departed for ducks — the sort of pair that makes a captain wince and reach for the tea urn early — but a generous 42 extras from our hosts helped nudge us to 139 all out in 32.1 overs. Not a total to frighten anyone, but something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, gamely. Oliver Curtiss made us pay with a fine 63, well backed by Joshua Baker's 25, the pair putting on 55 for the first wicket before we could land a real blow. Credit where it's due: Nolan Wilde (2-14) troubled them throughout, with Luke Welsman (1-9) and Alex Keeler (1-12) chipping in, but 140/5 came with overs to spare and the opposition ran out five-wicket winners.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — plenty of fight, a few lessons in shot selection, and Mark Christmas and Alex Keeler both quietly climbing the season charts. We'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Wed 09 Jun 2021 🧢 Stagsv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformW

Wednesday 9th June found us on the road to Leeds & Broomfield, under warm, cloudy skies that promised a proper afternoon of cricket. The coin, as is tradition, betrayed us — they had a look at it, chose to bat, and settled in for what would prove a very long stint in the field for the lads.

And long it was. Broomfield ground out 202/4 from their full hundred overs, built on a classy unbeaten fifty from Dom O'Connell, with Max Aitken (48) and Edward Scrivens (43) doing sturdy work either side of him. We did have our moments — Mardey Castle bowled beautifully for 1-10, and Archie Fairfax-Ross and Anthony Karassellos chipped in with a wicket apiece, the latter also accounting for Monte McCague without so much as troubling the scorers. Small mercies, gratefully received.

Chasing 203 was always going to ask questions of us, and we didn't have the answers, subsiding to 117/8 from our own hundred overs — a battling effort in patches, but not nearly enough. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Tobey Castle continues to lead our run charts with 64, and Karassellos now sits second among the wicket-takers with two scalps to his name.

So, 85 runs short and a fair bit of pride dented. Not our day, gentlemen — heads up, boots off, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 06 Jun 2021 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformWLLWW

Sunday 6th June saw us make the trip to Leeds & Broomfield, the skies drizzling with just enough conviction to make the toss matter. I called it right and, with barely a moment's thought, stuck them in — a decision that felt bold at the time and considerably less bold by the 39th over of our reply.

Leeds & Broomfield made steady if unspectacular progress to 157/7 from their forty, Fred Roberts top-scoring with 32, well supported by Max Aitken (27) and Edward Scrivens (25). Dan Creasey departed for a golden duck, small mercies in a total that never quite got away from us. Tobey Castle was the pick of the attack by some distance, snaring 3-29, with Sam Boyns (2-35) and Martin Harris (1-25) chipping in, while Alex Keeler bowled two tidy maidens and generally made life miserable for the openers.

Chasing 158, we contrived to make it interesting, slipping to 8-1 almost before anyone had found their guard, and poor Toby Hughes bagged a duck of his own. But Mark Christmas (37), Sam Boyns (36 not out) and George Taylor (33) steadied the ship, with a fifth-wicket stand of 53 the innings' backbone, hauling us home at 161/8 with barely a nerve left intact.

A two-wicket win, then — scrappy, damp, and thoroughly earned. Tobey Castle and Sam Boyns continue to lead the club's charts with bat and ball respectively this season, and rightly so. Onwards.

Sun 06 Jun 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformWWLWL

It was Chelsfield Park CC at home on a warm, showery Sunday, and having called correctly I fancied runs on the board rather than a chase — batting first seemed the obvious call. As it turned out, "obvious" and "wise" are not always the same word in this game.

We laboured to 119 all out in 32.1 overs, rescued from real embarrassment by Davy Matthews, whose fifty was the innings' one shaft of sunlight. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan, Fred Taylor and Ryan Silk all contributed golden ducks — a trio of nothings that rather set the tone — while our extras column, with 27, very nearly out-batted the top order. As for the skipper, I led from the front in the worst possible way: a golden blob. They do say a captain must lead by example. On this occasion I led by cautionary tale.

With the ball we fought hard. Tim Thirkell was superb, 2-14 with two maidens, well backed by Davy Matthews (2-23) and Fred Taylor (1-6). But Mani Aniyath's 23, with Vineel Busireddy unbeaten on 22 and Dinesh Muduli's 20, edged Chelsfield home at 120/6, and 11 byes behind the stumps told their own tale of a testing afternoon for the gloves.

Elsewhere, Thomas Beeney sits third in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 195, and Tim Thirkell second in the wickets on 6 — proof there's substance in this side even when the top order goes missing.

Not our day, beaten by four wickets. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sat 05 Jun 2021 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWWDWL

Here's the match report:

A warm, overcast Saturday, Bidborough in town, and I did the traditional captain's thing of winning the toss and immediately overthinking it — we batted. It did not go entirely to plan. Eighty-six all out in 35.1 overs is not the sort of total that gets the tea urn boiling with excitement, though young Daniel Thirkell held things together manfully with a battling 29. What happened either side of him is best described as theatrical: 67 for 5 became 76 for 8 with such alarming speed that George Taylor, Mark Christmas and Junaid Mufti between them contributed nothing but three golden ducks and a collective wince from the boundary.

Eighty-six was never going to feel like enough, and so it proved, though not without a proper scrap. Anthony Karassellos steamed in for 2 for 27 and Martin Harris chipped in with 1 for 21 — fitting figures on the day he brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserved a rather better backdrop. James Baldock's 30 for them was the difference, and Bidborough closed us out on 87 for 4 in 17.4 overs. I did my bit with 29, for what it was worth.

Six wickets the wrong way, then, and heads rightly hung on the walk back. Daniel keeps the season ticking over at the top of the run charts and Anthony atop the wickets, which is some consolation. But there's no dressing this one up — not our day. Back to the nets.

Wed 02 Jun 2021 🧢 Stagsv Meopham CC · Homeform—

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 02 June 2021. We hosted Meopham CC on a warm, cloudy afternoon rather more suited to a deckchair than a cap and pads, though there was cricket to be played and played it duly was.

The toss went against us, and Meopham had few qualms about asking us to bat first. We ground our way to 149/6 from a full 100 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Tobey Castle, whose composed unbeaten 53 was the innings' spine, with Toby Hughes chipping in a handy 30 alongside him. Not every contribution sparkled — Aaron Hughes will be keener to talk about the weather than his golden duck, and as for my own effort, nought is nought, and the less said about my dismissal the better; we shall draw a discreet veil over it.

Defending 149 is never comfortable, but the bowlers made it look almost routine. Max Butler set the tone with 2-13, George Taylor backed him up superbly with 2-15, and Tobey Castle, not content with his runs, added a wicket for 3. David Pollard's 29 and Kevin Smith's 28 threatened to make a match of it, but Meopham subsided to 115/8, Adam Roxburgh among those to depart without troubling the scorers.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a 34-run victory to bank. A day where the bat and ball both did rather more talking than the captain.

Sun 30 May 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv MC Minster (Sheppey) CC · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 30 May, and Linton Park welcomed Minster (Sheppey) CC under clouds that promised more than they delivered — which, in fairness, is about the only thing that didn't deliver for us today.

With the bat we were positively imperious. Richard Piper and Martin Rivers put on 143 for the first wicket before anyone laid a glove on them, and Piper simply carried on to finish unbeaten on 91. Benjamin Austin chipped in with a brisk 69, Rivers made a tidy 40, and even our extras column weighed in with 28 — 232/2 from our 40 overs, the kind of total that has you mentally composing the victory speech at tea.

Then Minster batted, and George Christian decided he'd quite like to write his own speech instead. Ninety not out, well supported by Cameron Bruce (47) and Riccardo Di Cicco (45), with an 84-run opening stand and then 119 more for the third wicket — the sums simply refused to go our way. Tim Thirkell toiled manfully for 2-38, ably backed by Nolan Wilde's 2-60, and there was at least the small mercy of Haydn Golzey departing for a duck. Thirkell also has genuine cause for a quiet pint tonight, having passed Gordon Fenner into 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — progress, even in defeat.

But 236/4 in 38.1 overs told its own story: beaten by six wickets. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — Minster deserved it, and we'll have our day again soon.

Sat 29 May 2021 🧢 2nd XIv FC Farningham CC · HomeformLWWWL

Rain looked a formality all week, but Saturday delivered a pleasant, cloudy afternoon at Linton Park, and Farningham CC rolled up looking dangerous. I called correctly and, feeling bold, stuck them in — the sort of decision that either gets you a pint or a roasting in the bar afterwards.

For a while it looked like the latter. Simon Evans and Richard Pleydell put on a masterclass, 68 and 65 respectively, with Matthew Ward chipping in an unbeaten 30 to help Farningham to a hearty 213/6 from their 40 overs. Credit where due, though poor Ed Bisley won't want reminding of his golden duck. It was Tim Thirkell who kept us in the contest, two wickets and two maidens of real discipline, well backed by Junaid Mufti (2-37) and Anton Bourdillon (1-14) — nothing given away lightly.

Chasing 214, we made surprisingly serene work of it. Junaid Mufti, having bowled his heart out, then batted like a dream for an unbeaten 60, with Laurie Probert (39) and Will Thew (37) laying the platform, and even your captain managing a useful 37. The extras column did its bit too, a generous 27. We eased home 215/5 with eight balls to spare.

Off the field, the milestones came thick and fast: Laurie Probert reached 3,000 career runs for the club, and Richard Piper's earlier 33 nudged him past John Thirkell into 5th on the all-time run list. Proper club cricket, that — history being written between overs.

A five-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 29 May 2021 🧢 1st XIv OC Outwood CC · AwayformLWWDW

Saturday 29 May 2021, and off we trundled to Outwood on an afternoon that could best be described as pleasantly grey — English cricket weather in its purest form. I won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I'd later question, stuck us in. Forty overs later we'd cobbled together 136/9, a total that owed rather more to the extras column (36, bless them, virtually an opening partnership in themselves) than to any great fireworks from the middle order. Mark Christmas held things together nicely with an unbeaten 39, calm and correct while wickets fell around him. Spare a thought, though, for poor Henry Bourdillon, who contributed nothing at all — golden, in fact — and no doubt trudged off to a chorus of sympathetic quacking.

Defending 136 was always going to require something special, and for a while Alex Keeler threatened to provide it, bowling tidily for 2-26 with three maidens, well backed by Anthony Karassellos and Richard Knowler with a wicket apiece. But Ashley Middleton (61) and Louis Russell-Watts (55 not out) had other ideas, putting on 50 for the third wicket and steering Outwood home with four wickets and plenty of overs to spare — 137/4 in 31.3.

Not our day, then, beaten by six wickets, and a case of heads up and back to the nets. Mark Christmas continues to lead our run charts and Anthony Karassellos our wickets, so all is not lost — merely dented. Onwards.

Sun 23 May 2021 🧢 Sunday NVKCv EC Eynsford CC · AwayformWWLLW

Here's the match report:

Sunday last saw us pack the kit bag and head down to Eynsford, under skies that could charitably be described as "seasonal" — cool, drizzly, and with a wind that seemed to take a personal interest in every one of our shots. The toss went against us, so out to bat we went, and 6 for 1 was not the start any captain dreams of on a morning like that. Credit, then, to Tobey Castle for steadying the ship with a fine 60, and to Mark Christmas for a stylish 48 alongside him — their fifth-wicket stand of 96 was the innings, really, with Sam Boyns chipping in a useful 22. We limped to 165 all out in 39.1 overs, and three of our number — Jordan Austin, Aaron Hughes and Abishek Pushpavinothan — took that lonely walk back for nought apiece.

With the total looking modest, it was down to the bowlers to make it count, and how they obliged. Joshua Knowler was magnificent, 3 for 22 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and found fine support from Mark Christmas (2-24) and Abishek Pushpavinothan (1-19), who also had the satisfaction of a duck at our hands in the field. Eynsford fought hard — Lewis Marlow's 45 and useful knocks from George Taylor and James Ashdown kept us honest — but they fell nine runs short on 156 for 9.

A splendid milestone-laden afternoon besides: Tobey Castle's 4,000th career run for the club, and Abishek's 50th career wicket. Two points, thoroughly earned, and not a bad way to spend a soggy Sunday.

Sun 23 May 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Southern Railway and Kenley CC · HomeformWWWWL

Southern Railway and Kenley CC rolled up on a cool, damp, blustery Sunday, and having lost the toss, I found us doing what Linton Park does best in such weather – standing about in a field wondering why we bother with sunscreen. Still, the lads made a proper fist of it with the ball later on, so no complaints.

With the bat we posted a very respectable 237/5 from our forty overs, built on an opening stand of 77 that gave the innings the platform it needed. Martin Rivers was the star of the show, purring to 97 – agonisingly shy of the ton, but no less handsome for it – with Benjamin Austin chipping in a fine 58 and Richard Piper a tidy 29 to keep things ticking along nicely.

Defending the total, we asked Southern Railway and Kenley to chase it down, and to their credit J Dinning gave it a real go with 78, backed up by Ian Cardew's 29 and M Bruce's 24. But the bowlers kept nibbling away – John Karassellos the pick with 2-28, Alex Wade following with 2-39, and James West chipping in with 1-23, with X Kievani sent packing for a duck along the way. They finished on 213/7, twenty-four runs short.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon, then – bat, ball and weather all conspiring in our favour for once. Verdict: a good day for the club, and Martin Rivers's near-century will be the toast of the clubhouse, damp jumpers and all.

Sat 22 May 2021 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformLLWWW

Skipper's log, then: a trip to Southborough, a lost toss, and the not-inconsiderable pleasure of being asked to bat first on a Saturday when the tea urn was presumably still warming up.

We were bowled out for 156 in 38.1 overs, which on paper looks like a middling effort and, in truth, played rather like one. Richard Piper top-scored with a tidy 37, with Junaid Mufti (21) and Martin Rivers (20) chipping in like good club men should. The less said about Anton Bourdillon's golden duck the better, though he took it on the chin with the good grace we've come to expect — and no doubt a pint was owed by close of play.

With the ball in hand we fancied our chances, and for one over we rather did — 8 for 1 is the sort of start that gets a captain's hopes up before reality sets back in. Alas, Christopher Williams and Phil Davis had other ideas, cantering to unbeaten fifties of 88 and 51 respectively and putting the game thoroughly out of reach. Nolan Wilde (1-24) and Tim Thirkell (1-25) toiled honestly without support, Thirkell's efforts keeping him top of our 2021 wicket charts, and Piper's runs enough to hold second in the run charts — small consolations on a chastening afternoon.

Beaten by eight wickets, then. Not our finest hour, but heads up and back to the nets — Southborough won this one fair and square, and we'll have our day yet.

Sat 22 May 2021 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformDLWWD

Saturday 22 May 2021, and a cool, damp afternoon greeted Shipbourne CC to our ground — though the weather was the least of their worries by the close. We lost the toss and were put into the field first, which in hindsight suited us rather nicely.

The lads set about building a total, if a touch shakily at first — 6 on the board and already a wicket down, the kind of start that has a captain reaching for the flask of tea rather earlier than planned. But Daniel Thirkell and Mark Christmas had other ideas, stitching together a magnificent 116 for the fourth wicket. Thirkell made 67, Christmas an unbeaten 65, and between them they hauled us to a very respectable 179/5 from our 40 overs. Spare a thought, though, for Aaron Hughes and Luke Welsman, who both made the long walk back for nought — the ducks are noted, gentlemen, and shall not be forgotten.

Defending 179 always felt like a task, but Anthony Karassellos had other plans, tearing through Shipbourne with a magnificent 5-9. Joshua Knowler backed him up superbly with 3-14, including two miserly maidens, and Richard Knowler chipped in with 1-4. Shipbourne slid from 19-1 to 32-4 and never recovered, bowled out for a paltry 67. Ben Watts, Keith Willis and Bruce Goodwin all departed without troubling the scorers.

I was quietly pleased to contribute 67 myself, and a nod too to Alex Keeler, who brought up 100 career wickets — a landmark worth raising a glass to. A win by 112 runs, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 15 May 2021 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWLLWW

Saturday 15th May saw Sissinghurst CC roll into Linton Park under grey, showery skies, and I confess I called correctly at the toss for once — small mercies — and had no hesitation in sticking us into the field.

It proved a shrewd, if slightly lucky, decision. Our attack ran through the visitors like a dose of salts, 69 for 6 crumbling to 84 for 9 in the blink of an eye, poor Tony Reader among the fallen for a golden duck at our hands. Tim Thirkell was the chief architect of the collapse with a superb 3-11, while Pieto Swart bowled with miserly discipline — 2-8 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Anton Bourdillon chipped in with 2-16. Sissinghurst were bowled out for 94 in 34.1 overs, and frankly could have no complaints.

Chasing 95, we were untidy in patches — 98 for 4 from 28.1 overs tells its own story of a few nervous moments — but Aaron Hughes anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 35, ushered along by Will Thew's 23 and Henry Bourdillon's 21. Job done, six wickets in hand.

Two points banked, and thoroughly earned. A tidy afternoon's work all round, and if the season table is anything to go by — Hughes second among our 2nd XI run-scorers, Thirkell top of the wicket pile — the lads are building something rather promising. More of the same, please.

Sat 15 May 2021 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLDLWW

Following on from Sissinghurst, sun shining, and yours truly losing the toss for what feels like the fourteenth week running — they took one look at our bowling figures on paper and decided fielding first was the wiser plan. Can't say I blame them.

Batting first is never as simple as it sounds, and 26.3 overs in we found ourselves at 141 for 5, which felt about right for the surface. Luke Welsman played the lead role with a tidy 39, and he had good company: Daniel Thirkell and George Taylor both weighed in with 31 apiece, while I somehow contributed 31 of my own from somewhere near the tail of the responsible-batting queue. A collective effort rather than one man's show, which is usually how these things go best.

Then came the small matter of defending it. Sissinghurst set about the chase with intent, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end and they never quite got the platform to trouble us — all out, though I'll spare blushes and simply say the scoreboard read a number lower than ours. And yet, for all that toil with bat and ball, neither side could land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw to nurse the pride of both dressing rooms.

Elsewhere, Tobey Castle continues his quietly excellent season, sitting second in the 1st XI run charts with 78 to his name — one to watch as the summer rolls on. As for Saturday itself: a battling total, disciplined bowling, and a result that satisfied no one and offended no one. I'll take it.

Sun 09 May 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wadhurst CC · AwayformWWWLL

Sunday 09 May 2021 took us down to Wadhurst CC, and we duly lost the toss and were shown to the field — never our preferred start, but as the day unfolded I began to wonder if the coin had done us a favour after all.

Batting first, we set about the Wadhurst attack with real intent. Tobey Castle led the charge with a majestic 93, falling agonisingly short of what would have been a very fine hundred indeed, while Jordan Austin's unbeaten 90 was every bit as commanding. Abishek Pushpavinothan chipped in a tidy 21 not out, and between them the lads carried us to 214 for 1 off 29 overs — the sort of total that has opposition bowlers reaching for the liniment early.

With the ball, Anthony Karassellos was the star of the show, ripping through the top order — Josh Kemp, Ryan Hall and James McCollum all back in the shed without troubling the scorers, and figures of 2 for 2 to boot, backed up by five miserly maidens that strangled the life out of Wadhurst's innings. Pieto Swart (2-9) and Ian Lowe (2-18) kept the squeeze on, and only Alan Notley's gutsy unbeaten 64 stood between us and victory, as they closed on 113 for 9 from 43 overs. Ten byes behind the stumps was the one blot on an otherwise tidy afternoon with the gloves.

In the end honours were shared — a draw when neither side could force it home. On the balance of the day's play, though, this was one that got away from us, and we'll take some consoling from Castle's runs and Karassellos's wickets on the long drive home.

Sun 09 May 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Lydd CC · AwayformLWWWW

Sunday 9th May found us on the road to Lydd, and for once the coin behaved itself — heads, and I had no hesitation in putting us in. Whether that proved the right call is, as ever, a matter for the bar afterwards. Aaron Hughes led the way with a fine 42, Thomas Beeney chipped in a handy 41 and Henry Bourdillon added 22, but wickets fell steadily around them and we were bowled out for 153 in the 40th over. Spare a thought for Richard Piper and Luke Welsman, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the ducks are proudly noted in the club ledger, as tradition demands.

With the ball, we toiled manfully but ultimately in vain. Darren Baker made merry to the tune of 97, ably supported by L Unwin's 20, and Lydd cantered to 156 for 4 in just 23 overs. Darrell Houghton-Judge was the pick of our attack with 1-17, Anton Bourdillon and Tim Thirkell chipped in a wicket apiece, and Alex Keeler kept things admirably tight with two maidens — small mercies on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Six wickets the margin in the end, and no arguing with it. Thomas Beeney continues to lead our Sunday run charts and Alex Wade the wickets, so the form is there somewhere in the side — just not, alas, all in the same match. We'll regroup, dust off the whites, and go again next week.

Sun 02 May 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Norton Sports CC · HomeformWLWWW

As it stands from the captain's chair, Sunday 2 May found us hosting Norton Sports CC under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on our parade or merely threaten to. I won the toss — a rare enough event to note in the annals — and had no hesitation batting first, reasoning that runs on the board are worth two in the bush, or however that goes.

The lads duly obliged. Henry Bourdillon batted with real assurance for his unbeaten 84, and Thomas Beeney matched him stride for stride with 77 not out, the pair putting Norton to the sword while Martin Rivers chipped in a handy 32. Even our extras column got in on the act with 25. Declaring ourselves satisfied at 243/4 from the forty, we knew we'd given ourselves something to bowl at.

Norton did not go quietly. Tom Boucher's unbeaten 86 and Daniel Marshall's fifty-laden 71 had us checking our maths more than once, but Anthony Karassellos kept chiselling away for 2-55, with Tim Thirkell (1-19, two miserly maidens) and Alex Wade (1-20) refusing to let the game run away from us. Norton finished five runs light — sorry, nineteen — at 224/6.

A tense, showery, thoroughly English afternoon, and we came out the right side of it. A good day for the club, and not a bad one for the tea urn either.

Sun 02 May 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformDWWWL

Sunday 2 May, and off we trundled to Leeds & Broomfield under skies that couldn't decide whether to be kind to us — spoiler, they weren't especially, and neither could we. We lost the toss, got sent into the field, and spent forty overs watching Max Aitken help himself to 71, with Chris Davis (35) and Monte McCague (33) tucking in behind him. Their openers gave us nothing early, 65 before the first wicket fell, and by the time they declared themselves satisfied at 216/7 the damage was well and truly done. Martin Harris did what he could with 2-36, Abishek Pushpavinothan matched him wicket for wicket (and two tidy maidens besides), while Sam Boyns chipped away for 1-31 — honest toil against a total that had rather got away from us.

Chasing 217 was always going to want a strong start, and losing a wicket with just 1 on the board rather set the tone. James Piper batted with real application for 43, Martin Harris again showed his worth unbeaten on 39, Abishek added 20, and I did my bit with 39 of my own — but wickets kept tumbling at the other end, not least poor Jordan Austin and Sam Boyns, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. All told, 163/9 wasn't enough.

Beaten by 53 runs, then — no hiding from it. Martin Harris now tops our Sunday run charts and Sam sits second among the wicket-takers, so there are green shoots amid the wreckage. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sat 01 May 2021 🧢 2nd XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWWLLW

Away at Bidborough, and for once I won the toss and didn't need my arm twisting — the pitch had "bowl first" written all over it, so into the field we went.

Bidborough set us 182 to chase from their 40 overs, built largely around Alex Latham's fine 88, well supported by Steve Waller's 37. Credit to the bowling unit for keeping a lid on things throughout: Darrell Houghton-Judge did the early damage with 2-16, while James West (2-27) and Richard Knowler (2-33, two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure) chipped away to keep the total within reach. Nothing given away cheaply — a proper team effort with the ball.

Chasing it down, Benjamin Austin played the innings of the season, a majestic 106 that made the run chase look rather more comfortable than it had any right to be, with Laurie Probert's unbeaten 28 steering us home in 33.2 overs. Spare a thought for poor Nolan Wilde, who made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club welcomes another member. And John Karassellos will want a quiet word with himself after 9 byes went walkabout behind the stumps.

All told, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work: six wickets in hand, a maiden century for Austin, and bragging rights secured. Onwards indeed.

Sat 01 May 2021 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLDLW

We took the field at Linton Park on a cool, showery afternoon on Saturday, with Bidborough CC our visitors. The coin, as is so often its habit against me, sided with the away captain, and we were asked to bowl first. Fortunes dipped early when Dale Hillhouse departed without so much as a squeak of the bat — a golden duck to open proceedings, and not the omen I'd have chosen. But the lads rallied superbly with the ball: Alex Keeler was the pick of the attack, miserly and menacing in equal measure with 3-13 and two maidens, well supported by Tobey Castle's 3-24 and Mardey Castle's tidy 1-7. Bidborough were shot out for 121 in 31.5 overs, Dan Slade's 42 the only real resistance.

Set a target that felt eminently gettable, we made light work of it. Jordan Austin batted with real class for an unbeaten 71, cruising to a well-made fifty and looking in no mood to give it back, while Tobey Castle — having already done his bit with the ball — chipped in handsomely with 49 not out at the other end. We cantered home at 124/0 in 22.5 overs without losing a single wicket, which even by the generous standards of a club newsletter counts as thoroughly comfortable.

Jordan now leads our 2021 run charts with 99 for the season, and Tobey tops the wicket pile with 5 — a fine early-season habit of turning up in both columns. A resounding ten-wicket win, then, and precisely the tonic for a grey afternoon. Onwards.

Sun 25 Apr 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Faversham CC · AwayformLWLWW

Cricket Committee, take note. Sunday 25 April 2021, and off we trotted to Faversham CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on our parade or just glower at it. I lost the toss — again, I'm beginning to suspect the coin has opinions — and they sent us in to bat.

No complaints from this end, though. Thomas Beeney played the innings of a captain's dreams, 54 not out and barely breaking a sweat, with Abishek Pushpavinothan right alongside him on 51 and Nolan Wilde chipping in a brisk 35. Even our extras column fancied itself a top-order batsman, contributing a generous 48. All told, 253/6 from our 40 overs — a total that had a bit of menace about it, for once.

Faversham set off in reply well enough, David Harris compiling a handsome 56 and Adam Jacob following with 51 of his own, but the required rate crept up like an uninvited guest and the middle order simply couldn't keep pace. Anthony Karassellos was superb with the ball, 2-13, ably backed by Abishek (doing rather well with bat and ball) and Darrell Houghton-Judge, both finishing with 1-12. Spare a thought for Hugo Woolley and Harry Plail, sent back for ducks — these things happen to the best of us, gentlemen, chin up.

We rolled them for 153/5 and home by 100 runs. A proper day out, and one I shall be dining out on at the clubhouse bar for weeks to come.

Sun 25 Apr 2021 🧢 Sunday NVKCv OC Offham CC · AwayformWWWLL

Sunday the 25th of April found us at Offham CC under skies the colour of a well-worn cricket ball, and my call in the air proved as reliable as ever — heads, tails, it hardly matters when the opposition win it and stick us in the field regardless. Early encouragement came with the very first ball still ringing in our ears, Offham 0 for 1 and looking rattled, but Tom Evans had other ideas, compiling a stubborn 59 with Daniel Blakeburn chipping in 21 as their fourth wicket pair added a stern 51. Credit to the lads for not letting heads drop: from 84 for 4 they were choked back to 96 for 7, Harry Legg shuffling off for a golden duck, and Alex Keeler (3-27) led the charge beautifully, well backed by Sam Boyns (3-29, two miserly maidens) and Mardey Castle (2-24). All out — sorry, not out, but restricted — to 125 for 9 off their forty.

With the bat, we made a mess of the very first over — 6 for 1, James Piper departing for nought — but Aaron Hughes settled things with a composed, unbeaten 55, ushered along nicely by Tobey Castle's 39 not out, and we cruised home on 129 for 2 with overs to spare.

An eight-wicket win, two points banked, and Hughes and Keeler now sitting proudly atop the season's run and wicket charts respectively. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — Offham will wonder what hit them, and frankly, so do we.

Sun 18 Apr 2021 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Egerton CC, Kent · HomeformWLWLW

It was one of those Sundays where you toss the coin, call it right, and just know — cool, cloudy, Egerton CC down at Linton Park, and something in the air said "have a bat." No hesitation from this captain: 168 all out in 36.3 overs, built on a lovely opening stand of 84 before the first wicket fell, and carried home by Benjamin Austin's fine 74, with brother Jordan chipping in a handy 26. Credit where due — a proper collapse from 154-7 to 168 all out took the shine off things rather quickly, the tail folding like a deckchair in a gale, but 168 always felt a defendable total on a day like this.

And so it proved. Egerton were bowled out for a mere 73 in 31.1 overs, the innings unravelling almost as fast as our own tail had. Thomas Beeney set the tone with two wickets for nothing, Alex Wade (2-11) and Fred Taylor (1-1) chipped away, and Jordan Austin, having done his bit with the bat, bowled two maidens without conceding a run — miserly stuff. Maxwell Harper departed for a golden duck, poor lad, as the visitors slid from 52-5 to 64-8 in the blink of an eye.

Two points, comfortably banked, won by 95 runs. Benjamin Austin now tops our Sunday run charts and Alex Wade the wickets — early season form that bodes rather well. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and not a bad way to spend a cloudy Sunday at all.

Sun 18 Apr 2021 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · AwayformLDWWW

Down by 55 at Mersham Le Hatch, and the toss went right but not much else did.

I called it correctly at the toss on a cool, cloudy Sunday and, with the shirt collars up and not much invitation in the air, fielding felt like the only decent option. For a while it looked shrewd enough. Tim Thirkell was the pick of a tidy attack (2-18), well supported by Anton Bourdillon and Mardey Castle (2-30 and 2-33 apiece), while Alex Keeler bowled three maidens that gave nothing away for love nor money. But 27 wides told their own story — we were generous to a fault, and a shocking 22nd over that cost us two wickets and all our momentum let Mersham Le Hatch build to 170/9, Thomas Bailey unbeaten on 36 the chief beneficiary of our largesse.

With the bat we simply never got going. Sam Boyns played the innings of the day, 35 not out, and Martin Harris chipped in with 20 — I managed 20 myself, for what little that was worth — but from a respectable 66-3 we contrived to slide to 73-6 in the blink of an eye, with Castle, Karassellos and Bourdillon all departing for ducks. All out for 115 in 31.5 overs was some way short of the mark. The one moment to savour was Jeremy Godden depositing one over mid-on for six — a shot worth the entrance money alone.

Not our day, then, by any measure — 55 runs the wrong side of the ledger, and the square boundaries did for us on both sides of the game. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 17 Apr 2021 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWLDL

It was a proper Saturday special, this one against Headcorn, played out under skies the colour of a well-worn cricket ball. Winning the toss and batting first, the lads set about building something substantial, and build it we did — 231 for 6 from our 40 overs, with Aaron Hughes the anchor on 47, Mardey Castle chipping in with 40 and Alex Keeler weighing in with 39. The third-wicket stand of 77 was the innings' spine, and a generous 31 extras from the visitors didn't hurt our cause one bit. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, all told.

Defending 231 is never a formality, and Headcorn made us work for every run of it, closing on 133 for 8. Peter Westrop's well-crafted fifty (51) was the innings that threatened, backed up by Jason Ovenden (32) and Kevin Richardson (27), and a third-wicket stand of 64 briefly had us worried after they'd lost an early wicket at just 4. But the bowlers held their nerve — Tobey Castle led from the front with 2 for 24, Martin Harris and Joshua Knowler chipped away with 2-35 and 1-7 respectively, and James West's two maidens strangled the scoring when it mattered most.

A word too for Aaron Hughes, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to, ducks for Hughes and Harley Gilks with the bat notwithstanding.

Four wickets, two points, and a result thoroughly deserved.